READ THIS: HIGHEST DUTY: My Search for What Really Matters by Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger with a special update from Captain Ron
Whom You Know is about quality: quality items, quality places, and more than anything, quality people (who usually are in these places influencing these items!) In reading this book, Peachy Deegan thinks that Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger exemplifies a quality person through and through. Usually we read books independently, but this time we consulted a member of our Aviation Panel at Whom You Know because everything Sully did is appreciated at a professional level even further. Peachy Deegan herself is not a pilot and has nothing to do with the aviation industry except for going to countless airshows as a child-Blue Angels and the like.
Our Aviation Expert has over 40 years of experience designing and building Aircraft Ground Support Equipment for Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky Aircraft, General Electric & Rolls Royce. He has worked on Jet Englines and Engine Stands. He has assembled and disassembled Tooling, Open Area Gauges for Turbine Blades, Fuel Controls Inspection and Calibration. Additionally, he is a former Member of Board of Directors for CTMA (Connecticut Tooling Manufacturing Association). This is our first aviation book to be reviewed at Whom You Know and we cannot think of a better book to start with.
According to our Aviation Expert:
During Sully's lifetime, Aviation as an industry has evolved tremendously in many ways from Electronics to Air Traffic Control to the FAA. As time has gone on, there are more and more planes in sky, specifically in the Manhattan airspace. The average person does not necessarily have an appreciation for all that it takes to be a great pilot: knowledge, a great attitude, acute attention to detail, sharp awareness, good eyes, and a fantastic knowledge of aircraft & engines. What is most impressive about Sully is his attention to detail and awareness. In reading the book, Sully is exactly correct in everything he mentions about the airline industry. Not all pilots possess his outstanding thinking and landing ability he has and I believe he is among the TOP percentage of pilots in the Industry. This was an excellent book and hard to put down. I liked the great detail, and you really get to know “Sully” in his professional and personal life I highly recommend Highest Duty. It is a good book for anyone. If there were more pilots like “Sully” the skies would be even much safer. Overall, an EXCELLENT BOOK.
During Sully's lifetime, Aviation as an industry has evolved tremendously in many ways from Electronics to Air Traffic Control to the FAA. As time has gone on, there are more and more planes in sky, specifically in the Manhattan airspace. The average person does not necessarily have an appreciation for all that it takes to be a great pilot: knowledge, a great attitude, acute attention to detail, sharp awareness, good eyes, and a fantastic knowledge of aircraft & engines. What is most impressive about Sully is his attention to detail and awareness. In reading the book, Sully is exactly correct in everything he mentions about the airline industry. Not all pilots possess his outstanding thinking and landing ability he has and I believe he is among the TOP percentage of pilots in the Industry. This was an excellent book and hard to put down. I liked the great detail, and you really get to know “Sully” in his professional and personal life I highly recommend Highest Duty. It is a good book for anyone. If there were more pilots like “Sully” the skies would be even much safer. Overall, an EXCELLENT BOOK.
Our second aviation expert, Captain Ron, (see previous coverage http://www.whomyouknow.com/2009/09/captain-ron-on-aviation-and-air-space.html ) stated:
I was expecting that "Highest Duty - My Search For What Really Matters", the life of Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger written with Jeffrey Zaslow, would be all about that fateful day in January of 2009. After reading the book, I found this to be quite the opposite. I found that "Highest Duty" is a book about passion and love.....for his family, his country, his fellow crew members, his passengers and of course flying.
Growing up in a small town in Texas, Sully would see aircraft from a nearby Air Force base fly over and be fascinated by them. Next came building model aircraft, his first airplane ride, and finally flight lessons. A plane crash, killing the pilot, at his local airport was a sobering experience. He came to the realization that there is the possibility of actually losing your life following your passion. This awakened his interest in increasing his knowledge of aeronautical safety issues.
A chance meeting celebrating fifty years of air traffic control operations led to the Sully meeting his future bride, Lorrie. After numerous attempts to start a family, adoption was their only option. Daughters Kate and Kelly were welcome additions to the Sullenberger household. Due to a pilot's work schedule, Lorrie took on the responsibility of raising the two girls. Sully was home less than half of the time. Pilots miss seeing their children grow up, miss holidays with them and all of the joy of family life. Almost every pilot has lost a good part of their pay and retirement benefits due to airline consolidation and attempts to save the company from going bankrupt.
Having been around pilots for over fifty years, Captain Sullenberger is a typical commercial pilot: a perfectionist, analytical, methodical, diligent and prepared. Sully met his co-pilot on US Air Flight 1549, Jeffrey Skiles, only three days prior to the accident. Captain Sully continuously gives credit for the successful landing on the Hudson to his crew, including the three flight attendants who had man years of experience. The training the whole crew had received in the past all came together that cold, January day. The crew handled their duties to the best of their ability.
The departure from LaGuardia leading to the landing on the Hudson is described in detail, word for word. There are 150 people alive today, thanks to the crew of five professionals just doing their job.
Aviation has exploded since the 1950's. Once what was a luxury, is now commonplace. At one time, jet setters were in the minority. Now they are the majority. Most people think nothing of hopping on a jet for a long weekend somewhere, it is just transportation. All of the traits that Captain Sullenberger possesses: a perfectionist, analytical, methodical, well trained, diligent, prepared, a true professional, someone who never stops learning and loves to fly are what makes him such a good pilot.
What is most impressive however is Sully's humbleness and love of his family. He always speaks of his crew handling the emergency, not just himself. The airline industry only looks at the bottom line due to the stockholders. They have a valid point, but they should be listening to the people who do the job day after day. Captain Sullenberger had to fight with his bosses when he saw empty seats on board and people wanting to get on the flight sitting in the terminal. The gate agents wanted the flight to depart on time at the expense of the passengers left behind.
In this book, there is nothing to disagree with Sully on. He and I could be brothers, our values and attitudes are the same. Althought I think most pilots could have done as well as Sully, I believe he has said that himself, it just happened to be him in that left seat that day. I hate to think of what the outcome would have been if the weather was not as good as it was that day. Someone was watching over Flight 1549.
***
Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger had less than three minutes to plan and execute the stunning water landing hailed around the world as “the miracle on the Hudson.” But in HIGHEST DUTY: My Search for What Really Matters (William Morrow; ISBN: 9780061924682; On-Sale: October 13, 2009; Price: $25.99 US/ $33.99 Can.), Sully reveals how he’d spent his entire life preparing for those fateful minutes in the cockpit of US Airways Flight 1549, when the actions he and his crew of four took would mean life or death for 155 people.
Growing up in a small town in Texas, Sully would see aircraft from a nearby Air Force base fly over and be fascinated by them. Next came building model aircraft, his first airplane ride, and finally flight lessons. A plane crash, killing the pilot, at his local airport was a sobering experience. He came to the realization that there is the possibility of actually losing your life following your passion. This awakened his interest in increasing his knowledge of aeronautical safety issues.
A chance meeting celebrating fifty years of air traffic control operations led to the Sully meeting his future bride, Lorrie. After numerous attempts to start a family, adoption was their only option. Daughters Kate and Kelly were welcome additions to the Sullenberger household. Due to a pilot's work schedule, Lorrie took on the responsibility of raising the two girls. Sully was home less than half of the time. Pilots miss seeing their children grow up, miss holidays with them and all of the joy of family life. Almost every pilot has lost a good part of their pay and retirement benefits due to airline consolidation and attempts to save the company from going bankrupt.
Having been around pilots for over fifty years, Captain Sullenberger is a typical commercial pilot: a perfectionist, analytical, methodical, diligent and prepared. Sully met his co-pilot on US Air Flight 1549, Jeffrey Skiles, only three days prior to the accident. Captain Sully continuously gives credit for the successful landing on the Hudson to his crew, including the three flight attendants who had man years of experience. The training the whole crew had received in the past all came together that cold, January day. The crew handled their duties to the best of their ability.
The departure from LaGuardia leading to the landing on the Hudson is described in detail, word for word. There are 150 people alive today, thanks to the crew of five professionals just doing their job.
Aviation has exploded since the 1950's. Once what was a luxury, is now commonplace. At one time, jet setters were in the minority. Now they are the majority. Most people think nothing of hopping on a jet for a long weekend somewhere, it is just transportation. All of the traits that Captain Sullenberger possesses: a perfectionist, analytical, methodical, well trained, diligent, prepared, a true professional, someone who never stops learning and loves to fly are what makes him such a good pilot.
What is most impressive however is Sully's humbleness and love of his family. He always speaks of his crew handling the emergency, not just himself. The airline industry only looks at the bottom line due to the stockholders. They have a valid point, but they should be listening to the people who do the job day after day. Captain Sullenberger had to fight with his bosses when he saw empty seats on board and people wanting to get on the flight sitting in the terminal. The gate agents wanted the flight to depart on time at the expense of the passengers left behind.
In this book, there is nothing to disagree with Sully on. He and I could be brothers, our values and attitudes are the same. Althought I think most pilots could have done as well as Sully, I believe he has said that himself, it just happened to be him in that left seat that day. I hate to think of what the outcome would have been if the weather was not as good as it was that day. Someone was watching over Flight 1549.
***
Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger had less than three minutes to plan and execute the stunning water landing hailed around the world as “the miracle on the Hudson.” But in HIGHEST DUTY: My Search for What Really Matters (William Morrow; ISBN: 9780061924682; On-Sale: October 13, 2009; Price: $25.99 US/ $33.99 Can.), Sully reveals how he’d spent his entire life preparing for those fateful minutes in the cockpit of US Airways Flight 1549, when the actions he and his crew of four took would mean life or death for 155 people.
While Flight 1549 has made Capt. Sullenberger one of the most famous pilots since Charles Lindbergh, this quiet, intensely private man has remained largely a mystery until now. In HIGHEST DUTY (with collaborator Jeffrey Zaslow), Sullenberger looks at his life—from growing up in rural Denison, Texas, to flying jet fighters in the U.S. Air Force to ascending the ranks as a commercial pilot—exploring the people and experiences that have shaped him personally and professionally.
Though he insists he’s not a hero, Sully is undeniably an inspiration, who has lived according to a code based on integrity, courage, discipline, passion, and humanity that transcends occupation.
Sully, who knew from the age of five that he wanted to be a pilot, writes about the exhilaration of his first solo flight at age 16, fondly remembering the taciturn crop-dusting pilot who taught him to fly. He candidly describes his father, a complicated and sometimes troubled man, who nevertheless taught his son by example about devotion to family and pride in hard work.
Capt. Sullenberger explains how he forged an unwavering commitment to excellence in the Air Force. Though he was never in combat, the flying was demanding and not without risk. Some of his comrades died during training missions, and he had close calls himself. Sully spells out the vivid lessons he has learned about the dire consequences of a momentary lapse in focus or inadequate preparation—relating those lessons to flight, and to life.
On the personal side, he opens up about the challenges of his 20-year marriage, including infertility. While he writes lovingly about his wife and their two adopted daughters, he admits his career choice has taken a toll on family life. To pursue his passion for flying, he’s sacrificed many precious days at home.
HIGHEST DUTY also puts readers in the cockpit of Flight 1549, and details for the first time exactly what he was doing, thinking and feeling in the harrowing minutes between the thud of birds striking the plane to the jolt of the aircraft hitting the water. He takes us through the evacuation of the plane, the dramatic rescue of passengers shivering on the wings of the sinking plane, and his agonizing wait for word that all 155 people on board were accounted for and safe.
Written with humility and insight, HIGHEST DUTY gives us an intimate understanding of the man behind one of the most amazing events in the history of aviation. Sully’s example reminds us that cultivating seemingly ordinary virtues can prepare us to perform extraordinary acts.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Capt. Chesley Sullenberger has been flying for more than 42 years, having made his first solo flight from a rural Texas airstrip at age 16. After graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy and Purdue University, he trained as a fighter pilot and flew the F-4 for five years. He left the Air Force and began working for Pacific Southwest Airlines (which later became US Airways) in 1980. Later, he served as a check airman, training and evaluating pilots, and was an accident investigator for the Air Line Pilots Association. He is the founder of Safety Reliability Methods, Inc., (SRM), a safety and performance consulting firm. Sullenberger lives in Danville, California, with his wife, Lorrie, and their two daughters.
ABOUT JEFFREY ZASLOW:
Jeffrey Zaslow is a Wall Street Journal columnist and, with Randy Pausch, coauthor of the #1 international bestseller The Last Lecture, now translated into 46 languages. He is also the author of the New York Times bestseller The Girls from Ames: A Story of Women and a Forty-Year Friendship. Jeff lives in suburban Detroit with his wife, Sherry, and daughters Jordan, Alex and Eden.
Whom You Know strongly recommends HIGHEST DUTY!
HIGHEST DUTY
My Search for What Really Matters
By Capt. Chesley Sullenberger with Jeffrey Zaslow
William Morrow
Publication Date: October 13, 2009
ISBN: 9780061924682
Price: $25.99 US/ $33.99 Can.
Large Print: ISBN: 9780061927584 $25.99 US/$33.99 Can.
Audio CD Unabridged: ISBN: 9780061953255 $39.99 US
E-Book:
